Professor  'Yickson 


DCPT 


J 


THE    IMPORTANCE    OF    COMPARATIVE    FIELD 

TESTS  WITH  SUGAR  BEET  SEEDS  AND 

HOW    TO    CONDUCT    THEM 


BY 


EDMUN 


D\ZALESKI,  Engineer 
- 


and  Director 


OF   THE 


Sugar  Beet  Seed 
Breeding  Station 


OF 


BUSZCZYNSKI  &  LAZYNSKI 

Niemiercze,  Podolia,  Russia. 

Part  I.     Field  Tests 


Edited  and  Translated  by 
W.   K.  WINTERHALTER 

Consulting  Agriculturist  Sc  American  Representative 

Wright  &  Callender  Building 
LOS  ANGELES,  CAL. 


2—   ^ 


Directions  for  Tests 

With  Different  Varieties  of  Sugar  Beet  Seed 
by  the  Standard  Method. 

Comparative  tests  with  sugar  beet  seed  should  be  carried 
on  by  every  factory  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  the  merits 
of  each  variety  and  in  order  to  ascertain  from  actual  returns, 
which  type  is  the  most  remunerative  to  the  farmer  and  which 
to  the  factory. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  sugar  beet  is  very  sensitive 
to  all  agencies  influencing  the  growth  of  plants,  such  as  at- 
mospheric conditions,  character  of  soil,  cultivation  and  others, 
and  quite  frequently  a  barely  noticeable  deviation  of  one  or  the 
other  produces  a  material  difference  in  yield  or  sugar  content 
of  a  certain  variety.  Therefore,  in  order  to  properly  judge  the 
relative  value  of  various  sugar  beet  types,  it  is  essential  that 
they  be  grown  and  tested  under  as  nearly  uniform  conditions 
as  possible. 

Equally  as  important  as  uniformity  of  soil,  climatic  and 
other  external  conditions,  are  tiie  following  points,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  standard  test  method : 

1st :  The  planting,  cultivation  and  general  care  of  the  test 
field  should  be  handled  as  nearly  alike,  as  this  work  is  per- 
formed in  the  field  of  the  average  beet  grower. 

2nd:  The  test  field  should  be  as  uniform  as  possible  in 
character  of  soil  and  subsoil,  also  as  regards  the  preceding 
crop,  fertilization  and  preparation  of  the  ground.  Land  which 
has  been  previously  used  for  experimental  work,  garden,  dump- 
ing ground  for  rubbish,  etc.,  is  not  fit  for  these  test  plots.  The 
field  selected  for  the  standard  test  should  be  most  carefully 
prepared. 

All  preparatory  work,  especially  the  deep  plowing,  should 
be  performed  under  a  right  angle  to  the  beet  rows.  The  plow- 
ing should  be  done  by  one  man  with  one  and  the  same  plow. 


?the  operation  of  lifting.    This  applies  especially  to  the  center 
rows  which  are  used  for  analysis  and  the  tonnage  test. 

Much  can  be  gained  by  employing  throughout  the  season 
the  same  laborers  for  all  the  work  in  connection  with  these  test 
plots,  providing  this  is  at  all  feasible.  I  doubt,  however,  that 
many  will  be  in  such  a  fortunate  situation,  especially  out  West. 

9th :  The  test  fields  must  be  frequently  inspected  and  any 
irregularities  or  differences  in  germination,  uniformity  of  com- 
ing up,  growing  energy,  vitality,  appearance  of  and  damage  by 
parasites  and  diseases,  disease  resistance  and  other  features 
that  may  present  themselves  to  the  student  and  close  observer, 
must  be  carefully  and  immediately  recorded. 

10th :  The  sugar  content  and  yield  of  a  variety  are  greatly 
dependent  on  the  number  of  plants  per  square  unit  and  the  dis- 
tance between  beets.  The  same  variety  will  show  marked  dif- 
ferences in  both,  though  'growing  under  as  nearly  identical  soil, 
climatic  and  other  conditions,  as  possible,  when  there  are  only 
28,000  or  39,000  beets  growing  on  an  acre.  A  similar  difference 
will  be  observed  in  case  of  the  same  number  of  beets  to  the 
square  unit,  but  when  they  are  unevenly  distributed,  i.  e.,  a 
great  deal  depends  whether  the  plants  grow  uniformly  all  over 
the  surface  of  a  field  or  whether  there  are  places  of  a  dense 
stand  and  then  again  bare  spots.  It  is  therefore  recommended 
that  for  the  determination  of  sugar  and  tonnage  only  such  beets 
be  used,  which  have  matured  in  a  row  or  in  sections  of  rows  of 
uniform  stand.  Wherever  this  condition  exists  the  theoretical 
yield  of  a  variety  is  ascertained  by  multiplying  the  average 
weight  of  the  beets,  harvested  from  such  spots  with  normal 
stands,  with  the  calculated  number  of  beets  per  acre.  This 
method  is  justified  and  generally  accepted,  since  the  number  of 
beets  per  acre  is  mostly  dependent  on  the  soil  and  growing  con- 
ditions, and  not  on  the  character  of  the  beet  type.  Marked  dif- 
ferences in  germination  power  and  vitality  from  the  outset  are 
always  recorded  during  the  first  growth  of  the  crop.  When- 
ever great  differences  occur  in  the  stand  of  a  test  field,  it  is  ad- 
visable to  remove  the  beets  from  the  uneven  spots  the  day  be- 
fore the  beets  are  lifted  for  the  test,  leaving  in  the  plots  only 
those  beets  which  matured  in  rows  of  a  uniform  stand.  By  pro- 
ceeding in  this  manner  errors  resulting  through  the  addition 


of  beets  which  grew  under  abnormal  conditions,  can  be  fully 
eliminated. 

Should  through  some  cause  or  another  the  entire  test  field 
show  a  very  uneven  and  faulty  stand,  the  selection  of  the  test 
beets  must  be  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  investigator,  and  a 
careful  count  of  the  beets  in  each  test  plot  is  necessary  so  that 
the  records  show  the  prevailing  conditions  most  accurately,  fur- 
nishing at  the  same  time  an  explanation  for  the  results  of  the 
sugar  and  tonnage  tests  of  these  plots.  The  results  from  test 
fields  which  have  a  uniformly  thin  stand,  but  no  bare  spots  of 
any  consequence,  while  not  of  as  great  value  as  of  a  uniformly 
good  stand,  can  still  be  used  for  a  fairly  accurate  calculation 
of  the  yield  of  a  variety.  In  this  case  the  average  between  the 
theoretical  number  of  beets  p<er  acre  and  the  actually  counted 
number  of  beets  per  acre,  is  ascertained,  and  this  figure  is  then 
multiplied  with  the  average  weight  of  the  test  beets.  The  re- 
sults obtained  from  such  irregular  test  fields  are  not  conclusive 
on  the  merits  of  a  variety  and  can  only  be  used  for  comparison 
with  others  grown  under  the  same  conditions  on  the  same  field. 

llth :  The  larger  the  number  of  beets  which  are  used  for 
the  sugar  determination,  the  more  accurate  are  the  results  ob- 
tained. The  usual  equipment  and  arrangement  of  a  factory 
laboratory,  however,  limits  the  number  of  beets  to  be  tested, 
and  careful  investigation  has  proven,  that  it  is  not  necessary  to 
use  all  the  beets  from  each  test  plot  for  analysis. 

The  general  custom  for  the  selection  of  beets  for  laboratory 
use  is  the  following:  After  removing  all  beets  grown  in  open 
spaces  and  in  outside  rows,  and  others  not  standing  in  continu- 
ous rows,  the  number  of  the  remaining  beets  in  each  plot  is  as- 
certained, and  accordingly,  every  fourth,  sixth  or  tenth  beet 
may  be  selected  for  the  laboratory  test.  Just  what  percentage 
of  the  normally  grown  beets  should  be  selected  cannot  be  pre- 
scribed, as  this  depends  entirely  on  the  stand  in  the  test  plots; 
all  that  is  required  is  a  sufficiently  larsre  number  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obtaining  the  most  accurate  results.  Some  beets  will  al- 
ways have  to  be  discarded  after  they  have  been  pulled,  on  ac- 
count of  broken  roots,  injuries  by  insects  or  disease,  or  for  other 
causes  which  cannot  be  detected  until  the  beets  have  been  lifted. 
It  is  better  to  have  too  many  beets  than  not  enough. 


12th :  The  most  advisable  method  for  the  sugar  determina- 
tion is  the  "Hot  Water  Digestion,"  and  for  the  sake  of  uni- 
formity and  comparison  of  results  from  the  different  sections  of 
the  United  States,  this  method,  and  no  other  should  be  used  in 
the  analytical  work.  The  pulp  should  be  as  fine  and  uniform 
as  possible,  and  the  use  of  boring  machines  is  not  recommended, 
as  too  small  a  section  is  removed  from  each  beet,  and  also  be- 
cause the  sugar  content  of  such  a  small  section  is  not  a  fair 
representative  of  the  sugar  content  of  the  entire  beet. 

13th  :  Several  hundred  beets  produce  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  pulp.  As  it  is  impossible,  for  the  average  factory  labora- 
tory, to  digest  the  entire  amount,  only  a  sample  thereof  will  be 
analyzed,  and  the  selection  of  this  sample  is  a  feature  of  great 
moment.  The  following  method  for  securing  this  sample  is 
recommended :  Divide  the  entire  quantity  in  two  parts1 — A  and 
B ;  mix  each  thoroughly  and  then  divide  each  again  into  Al, 
A2  and  Bl  and  B2.  Then  mix  thoroughly  Al  with  Bl  and  A2 
with  B2,  then  re-divide  (Al  and  Bl)  and  (A2  and  B2)  and  re- 
peat this  manipulation  10  to  15  times  for  about  15  minutes. 
Finally  about  5  to  7  samples  are  taken  from  this  mixture  and 
the  sugar  in  each  one  is  determined.  Since  every  seed  variety 
is  from  3  to  5  times  represented  in  a  test  field,  from  15  to  30 
individual  determinations  of  sugar  are  thus  obtained  of  each 
by  this  method. 

14th :  As  errors  in  the  reading  of  the  polariscope  are  very 
common,  and  occur  even  with  the  b'est  chemists,  the  use  of  4 
to  5  samples  is  far  superior  to  the  use  of  one,  though  the  latter 
may  represent  4  times  the  weight  of  any  single  one.  The  more 
readings  the  smaller  the  margin  of  errors. 

In  order  to  be  able  to  form  reliable  conclusions  of  the  re- 
sults of  these  tests  the  greatest  accuracy  in  connection  with 
every  branch  of  the  work  in  the  field  as  well  as  in  the  laboratory 
is  of  prime  importance ;  without  it,  more  harm  than  good  might 
come  from  them. 

A  supplementary  edition  treating  the  work  in  the  labora- 
tory in  detail,  and  the  method  of  calculating  and  determining 
the  results  of  the  seed  tests  will  be  issued  later  in  the  season. 

Los  Angeles,  California,  February,  1911. 


be  tested,  the  use  of  a  "  standard  type"  is  absolutely  necessary; 
in  case  of  only  a  few  varieties  (4  to  6),  the  standard  type  may 
be  omitted,  and  instead  the  test  rows  of  the  others  should  be 
repeated  once  or  twice  more — making  4  or  5  series  of  plantings, 
instead  of  only  3. 

6th:  The  size  of  the  test  fields  greatly  depends  upon  the 
degree  of  accuracy  of  results  which  are  expected  from  the  tests. 
For  an  accurate  determination  of  the  sugar  content  an  area  of 
approximately  120  to  150  square  yards  is  sufficient.  For  the 
yield  test,  at  least  three  times  that  area  is  necessary,  viz:  ap- 
proximately 450  square  yards.  When  planning  the  size  of  the 
test  field  due  consideration  must  be  given  to  the  labor  at  your 
command,  as  all  the  work  in  connection  with  the  test  field 
throughout  the  season  should  always,  if  at  all  possible,  be  per- 
formed in  one  day. 

7th:  As  to  the  shape  of  the  test  field,  same  is  dependent 
on  soil  conditions  and  slope;  generally  speaking  an  oblong 
parallelogram  is  most  desirable,  as  it  brings  the  different  vari- 
eties in  close  proximity,  thus  making  their  growing  conditions 
as  nearly  alike  as  possible.  Each  test  plot,  if  one  may  thus 
designate  each  seeding  of  a  variety,  must  consist  of  not  less 
than  three  rows,  and  better  five,  the  latter  number  increasing 
the  accuracy  of  the  results.  For  the  determination  of  the  sugar 
and  yield  of  each  variety  only  the  one  center  row  is  used,  in 
case  of  three  row  plots,  and  the  three  center  rows  are  used  in 
case  of  5  row  plots.  The  advantage  of  5  row  plots  needs  no 
further  comment. 

8th:  The  seeding  and  all  other  cultural  labor  should  be 
performed  in  the  same  manner  as  is  practiced  in  the  open  field, 
but  the  utmost  care  should  be  exercised  to  do  all  the  work  well 
and  accurately.  Where  the  seeding  is  done  by  hand  instead  of 
a  Planet  Junior  hand  seeder,  uniform  dropping  of  the  kernels 
is  absolutely  necessary,  and  just  as  important  is  a  most  accurate 
spacing  and  thinning  at  a  uniform  distance  throughout  the  test 
field.  All  varieties  must  be  thinned  at  the  same  distance,  and 
the  width  between  rows  must  be  likewise  the  same  throughout 
the  field.  At  the  time  of  harvesting  all  beets  must  be  uniformly 
topped  and  cleaned  and  the  roots  must  not  be  broken  off  by 


Manure  should  be  used  from  one  stable  only,  so  that  it  is 
the  product  of  the  same  animals  for  a  prolonged  period.  Never 
take  horse  manure  from  livery  stables,  or  mix  sheep  and  cattle 
manure.  If  possible,  use  the  same  pile  of  manure  for  the  test 
field  and  see  that  it  is  most  carefully  and  evenly  distributed 
over  the  land  in  a  uniform  layer.  Spread  the  manure  always 
under  a  right  angle  to  the  direction  in  which  you  intend  to 
plant  your  beet  rows;  it  must  be  spread  immediately  and  not 
allowed  to  lie  in  piles,  for  even  a  day,  in  the  field;  it  must  be 
plowed  under  as  fast  as  it  can  be  scattered. 

3rd:  In  spite  of  the  most  careful  selection  and  prepara- 
tion of  the  test  field,  there  may  be  spots  which  at  the  first 
glance  plainly  show  that  they  differ  in  character  from  the  gen- 
eral make-up  of  the  field.  Such  places  should  not  be  included  in 
the  test  at  the  time  of  harvesting.  The  beet  rows  should  run 
in  right  angles  to  the  plow  furrow  and  the  other  preparatory 
operations,  and  parallel  with  the  slope  of  the  land.  In  case 
the  character  of  the  soil  or  its  depth  change  in  a  given  direc- 
tion, the  beets  should  be  planted  in  the  same  direction. 

4th:  Even  the  most  careful  examination  of  the  field  and 
the  greatest  care  in  its  selection  do  not  always  guarantee  that 
conditions  are  absolutely  uniform  or  will  continue  so  during 
the  growing  season.  Heavy  rains,  accidents  during  the  irriga- 
tion, parasitic  destruction  and  other  agencies  may  cause  great 
variations  in  the  final  results. 

In  order  to  eliminate  the  effects  of  such  unavoidable  occur- 
rences as  much  as  possible,  and  thus  reduce  to  the  lowest  mar- 
gin the  errors  resulting  therefrom,  each  test  must  be  repeated 
several  times ;  and  the  more  varieties  are  in  the  test  the  of tener 
the  rows  should  be  repeated.  There  should  never  be  less  than 
three  series  of  each  planting;  one  series  of  test  rows  is  of  no 
value,  two  of  very  little. 

In  order  to  obtain  the  most  accurate  results  and  data 
which  can  be  directly  compared,  the  use  of  one  seed  variety, 
as  a  ''standard"  is  highly  recommended.  This  standard  vari- 
ety is  always  seeded  alongside  every  other  Variety  included  in 
the  test,  and  the  returns  of  the  latter  are  then  directly  com- 
pared with  the  returns  of  the  two  "standard"  varieties  grow- 
ing on  either  side.  When  a  large  number  of  varieties  are  to 


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